Whole Corn Hulled Grain

[ggrap]

Can chickens digest things like whole corn and unhulled grain?

Thank you.

 

[chilisweet]

I dont know for sure, but whenever we feed ours whole corn, they dont eat it. they much prefer cracked corn. Hopefully someone else can answer this better than me....

 

[ggrap]

I have fed them cracked before that has a lot of whole pieces in it, but I don't know if it is good for them or digestible? Anyone know?

 

[roosmom]

I was given a lg bag of whole corn 9 weeks ago by mistake. My chickens ate it up...with no ill side effects. BUT, I made darn sure they had a full grit container at all times to eat. I am not an expert, but my 51 Buff Orpingtons are still alive and well. They love anything corn LOL.
So the answer is, its ok, kust make sure to give them grit along with it.
I dont know about young chicks, mine are 7 months old now. I am going to test the whole grain. It seems to me that if they can eat whole corn, then whole grain would be ok.
But I do intend on buying it cracked, just so it is easier for them.

 

[Debo's Chickens]

chickens can eat whole corn, but they need to adjust to it. They can't go from pellets one day to whole corn the next.

I've been researching a whole grain diet for my chickens & I wondered the same thing - how can they eat whole corn? It just seems huge! So I posted to the organic chicken group on yahoo & lot's of people said they feed whole corn (in addition to other stuff). When switching from pellets to whole grains, you have to transition slowly to give their gizzards (I think?) time to get stronger. Also, grit is essential when they eat whole grains.